Regulation of tubulin and actin mRNA production in rat brain: expression of a new beta-tubulin mRNA with development.

The expression of alpha-tubulin, beta-tubulin, and actin mRNA during rat brain development has been examined by using specific cDNA clones and in vitro translation techniques. During brain maturation (0 to 80 days postnatal), these mRNA species undergo a significant decrease in abundance. The kinetics of this decrease varies between the cerebrum and the cerebellum. These mRNAs are most abundant in both tissues during week 1 postnatal, each representing 10 to 15% of total mRNA activity. Both alpha- and beta-tubulin mRNA content decreases by 90 to 95% in the cerebrum after day 11 postnatal, and 70 to 80% decreases in the cerebellum after day 16. Actin sequences also decrease but to a lesser extent in both tissues (i.e., 50%). These decreases coincide with the major developmental morphological changes (i.e., neurite extension) occurring during this postnatal period. These studies have also identified the appearance of a new 2.5-kilobase beta-tubulin mRNA species, which is more predominant in the cerebellar cytoplasm. The appearance of this form occurs at a time when the major 1.8-kilobase beta-tubulin mRNA levels are declining. The possibility that the tubulin multigene family is phenotypically expressed and then this expression responds to the morphological state of the nerve cells is discussed.